Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

[Croix]

Dear All
The purpose of this thread is as a meeting point for those that can’t sleep and it is late (I.E. AFTER midnight.)

It can be a useful space for users to share their issues with insomnia as well as coping strategies. It can also be a general space for users to converse and support one another throughout a difficult night.

Please note – for those that are just bored or lonely we already have a place - the BB Café, which I recommend instead of here

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/bb-social-zone/the-bb-cafe

Croix

[Tee_anon]

Thankyou to all that have been so loving and supporting , all your kind words are greatly appreciated and I'm glad to say I'm making small great progress with my partner , better days ahead for us and especially for everyone that may be struggling.

[Matchy69]

Hi Tee anon I am glad you are making some small progress forward in your relationship.I hope you can move forward with your relationship.We are here if you need to talk.
Take care,
Mark.

[Emo]

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all feeling OK. I'm reaching out as I am really struggling right now having gone through a very bad few days.  I'm feeling so alone.

I tried to contact a support line via webchat and unfortunately the person I spoke to was very rude and suggested I just sort out my mess regarding my husband myself. I was very surprised as they have been so helpful in the past.

Maybe I need to work it out myself. I was once so brave but not anymore. I am a shell of the person I once was. Does anyone have any suggestions on any books I can read to help me with working on my self confidence. I am trying so hard to try to help myself but I am exhausted as I have not been able to sleep more than two hours a night for the past week.

Any suggestions on how I can get to sleep while experiencing trauma?

Regards,

Emo.

[Guest_1643]

hey Emo

How are you?

I like The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and today in a bookstore I saw another book by him called The Confidence Gap. Haven't read that one myself but he's a great author and it seemed in line with what you were asking about.

There is an old self-help book called Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffreys) that I picked up and found interesting - maybe a bit dated now?

Anyone here into Louise Hay? She doesn't do much for me but I do find her interesting.

I have really bad PTSD related sleep issues myself. The things that helped me which I worked on during an inpatient stay were:

Having a very basic two-step routine before bed. Like after dinner I'd have a shower, then listen to music. Every. Single. Night. It was pretty relaxing and gave me a focus.

Also diffusers. Some ppl like baths if you have one with epsom salts.

Reading really simple books before, I liked reading YA books.. something catchy that doesn't make me feel stupid or have to excercise my brain too much. Trauma experts have suggested children's books to me.

I had a scary experience with 1800 respect myself. I have since turned to other services. As long as the person on the other end is trauma sensitive they can help you. I also had good experiences with 1800 respect. I don't know your background so please tell me if it's not appropriate but there's another line related to DV called the CASA line.....just if you needed a change from 1800 respect.

Hope this helps 🙂

[Emo]

Hi Sleepy21,

Thank you so much for replying to me. I'm sorry for my late reply. I'm trying really hard to get some support in place before I try to leave.

Thank you for your great book suggestions, I will try to get hold of them and have a read. You are such an amazing person with everything you must have going on in your life to reach out to someone like me. I don't deserve anyone else caring about me but I really do appreciate it.

I will try to follow your other tips as well as they are really good tips. I wish I was as strong as you are. Please take care of yourself as you are such a special person. If there is any way that I can help you or support you please let me know. Thank you.

Regards,

Emo.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Emo

Thanks so much... I do have a lot going on with MH but I am really happy to help. I don't have any answers but I am happy to listen and care.

[Sophie_M]

Hi Emo,

We're sorry you had a bad experience with another support line. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them again or our support service (1300 22 4636) or our friends at Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you need to talk to someone.

[Guest_1643]

hello Sophie_M

From my own experience sometimes when I have a bad experience with a helpline it is because it isn't able to help me or doesn't match with what I need at the moment. To call them again sometimes is risky. It can be a good opportunity to access who can provide the help most needed.....its okay if a certain helpline doesn't work or doesn't suit, to take a break from that. That's my firm opinion because sometimes recalling can be traumatising. All the best.

[ecomama]

Hey Emo

I'm sorry you had a worse time with DV recently.

I'm REALLY GLAD you are seeking support from multiple avenues!!!!
Getting "linked in" (as Police called it to me) with as many places as humanly possible is the best "safety net" you can create.

I'm sorry that webchat person said those things.
I'm sorry Sleepy had a bad 1800RESPECT experience too.
I had a hellish experience with Lifeline - seriously bad, I felt SO MUCH worse.

Absolutely agree with Sleepy with requesting a "trauma informed" person.
With 1800RESPECT they always put me through to a Trauma Psychologist - you can ASK them to do this. I do every single time. (It's been the longest gap now since calling OR having Counselling - we're doing really well atm).

Have you been able to make contact with a Centrelink Social Worker?
You can speak with one and they can help in so many ways.
Sadly I knew of more ways than OUR C/link SW but there it is.

If you need food, you can contact Churches in your area for food parcels.
My Church actually delivers them for free. Not all Churches have Food Pantries.
Maybe the CL Social Worker knows which Churches DO in your area.

My Church is the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
My old Church also had this service and more. They offered petrol vouchers etc.
This was the Salvation Army Corps.

No matter what ANYONE says, YOU are worthy Emo.
WE LOVE YOU!

You are very loved and cared about!

You will find ways.
There ARE ways.

Let us know how you get on.

Love EM

[Matchy69]

It's 1 am and I just woken up and my anxiety is really bad about my surgery today and really feel physically sick from it.I was asleep earlier and my phone goes off and it's my daughter texting me hoping I can get some sleep tonight.